Is living a healthier life your resolution for the year?  

Are you looking to take a break from bad habits and to reset? Are you trying to start the new year on a healthier footing, living and feeling better? 

Whatever your motivation may be – to experience better sleep and increase your energy levels. To improve your mental health and concentration, lose weight, look even more fabulous & get brighter skin. Your body will thank you for it (and your purse too!). You will be left with an amazing sense of achievement. 

What happens to your body when you stop drinking?

We all know that heavy or long-term drinking increases physical and mental problems and causes heart and liver damage. It also leads to a higher risk of cancer, a weakened immune system, memory issues and mood disorders. Cutting out alcohol for even a month can make a noticeable difference to your health. Your heart, liver, memory, and more will be better for it. It helps with blood pressure regulation and lowers cholesterol levels & cancer-related proteins in the blood. Your mind and body will begin to heal. Your body gets better hydrated (when you drink alcohol, you lose around four times as much liquid as you drink) which is beneficial for your brain. You are less likely to experience headaches; you get a proper nerve and muscle function back, and your mood and concentration become more stable. Your stomach lining and stomach acid production will normalise. Your liver can concentrate on other tasks, such as metabolising fats and excess hormones, and breaking down the toxins produced by the body.

What secondary effects am I likely to experience?

Depending on a multitude of factors (including your general state of health & drinking habits), you might experience symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.  It is not unusual in the first days to experience mild anxiety, headache, lack of energy, sometimes nausea, shaky hands, increased sweating, and insomnia. It will all pass after a few days. Your body needs to adapt and reset. Don’t give up, you’ll get all the good effects as well in the blink of an eye! Sometimes more severe symptoms can kick in within two or three days after you stop drinking. They can include hallucinations, delirium, racing heart rate, and occasionally fever, so please reach out to your friends, family, support groups or medical advice if it is the case, as there are many ways we can help.

How to make it work?

• Find your new drink : sparkling water with a slice of lemon, elderflower cordial, cranberry juice, or non-alcoholic beer (look out for sugar content).
• Avoid temptation: Keep alcohol out of your house. When you are invited to someone’s home, bring your non-alcoholic drinks with you.
• Let people know:  If friends and family know about your intentions they might even join the challenge! 
• Don’t give up : If you slip up, don’t feel guilty. Just begin again the next day.

Reflection time: How do I feel when alcohol-free?

It is an opportunity to reflect on your drinking habits. Have I started drinking more since COVID-19? Is stress and anxiety making me drink more? Am I a social drinker? Am I a “worry” drinker? Do I enjoy drinking? 

It is very common to lose your alcohol cravings after a month and realise that drinking doesn’t need to occupy such a big space in your life. It is a fantastic opportunity to rethink your attitude towards drinking and get the relationship you want with alcohol. May it be an occasional indulgence, a Saturday night dinner treat, a time shared with friends… Whatever works for you, but on your own terms.

When you are ready to go further by detoxifying your body, strengthening your liver and choosing an altogether healthier life, reach out, we are here to help you :